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One Millions Americans Likely Infected with Swine Flu…6% or More of Urban Areas Affected
Please do remember the same precautions apply for this pandemic as for all influenza epidemics.
First, read what to do if you have symptoms at the Centers for Disease Control Swine Flu site.
Second, read CDC advice to physicians on that site so that you know what doctors are being advised to do. It will help you cooperate in your care should you become ill. Remember, that advice could change at any time. Keep checking.
Third, there also is guidance for in-home care-givers. If you likely are the family care-giver, you should review this information.
Fourth, please remember that you won’t remember all of this information. Because things can change, it is smart to check these sites when you read of changes in the way the pandemic is moving. Should you become ill, or have someone to care for who is, print out the information at the time you need it. You will not remember it all. In fact, you will be better able to handle the situation if you know you can’t remember all of it and keep your information sheets ready.
It can’t be said too many times.The term, pandemic, is the term used for the spread—-how many people have it? As of now, the patients generally have had mild cases although there have been deaths.
Come fall, will this turn into a meaner bug?
It may well do that if H1N1 (the scientific label for this strain) follows the traditional pattern for pandemics of this type.
This strains are famous for the one-two punch, starting mild and then coming around and hitting hard.
“The Associated Press/Washington Post reported that U.S. health officials on Thursday said they believe as many as 1 million Americans have been infected with H1N1 and “6 percent or more of some urban populations are infected.” The estimates were based upon survey data collected by health officials and mathematical modeling.
“The article also notes that “as many as 60 million doses of vaccine to protect against the new virus could be ready by September, said Robin Robinson, an official with the federal agency that oversees vaccine manufacture and distribution.” But others at the meeting said ”that prediction seemed a bit optimistic” (Stobbe, 6/26).
“According to the Los Angeles Times, Lyn Finelli, a flu surveillance official with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told members of a vaccine advisory committee that while there are nearly 28,000 laboratory-confirmed U.S. cases of the virus have been reported to the CDC, “standard models of viral spread indicate that many times that number have been infected.” The seasonal flu typically infects between 15 million to 60 million Americans annually. By this time of year, “[t]he normal seasonal flu virus has virtually disappeared from this country, as would be expected. But the novel H1N1 virus is continuing to spread, and now accounts for 98% of all cases.” (Los Angeles Times, 6/25).
Sources: Kaiser Health News, June 26, 2009; Associated Press/Washington Post, June 26, 2009; Los Angeles Times, June 25, 2009
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